U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, whose rocky tenure as the nation's top diplomat was marked by disagreements with President Donald Trump, was ousted Tuesday morning.

Trump nominated CIA Director Mike Pompeo, a supporter going back to the 2016 campaign trail, as Tillerson's replacement. He will need to be confirmed by the Senate first, while Deputy Director Gina Haspel is in line to take over the CIA as its first female leader.

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"Tremendous energy, tremendous intellect," Trump said of Pompeo in remarks outside the White House. "We're always on the same wavelength."

Trump added, "Rex and I have been talking about this for a long time," but he highlighted their differences on issues, including the Iran nuclear deal, which the president wants to scrap.

"I think Rex will be much happier now."

Mike Pompeo, Director of the CIA, will become our new Secretary of State. He will do a fantastic job! Thank you to Rex Tillerson for his service! Gina Haspel will become the new Director of the CIA, and the first woman so chosen. Congratulations to all!

In subdued afternoon remarks at the State Department, Tillerson said he would formally resign the Cabinet position March 31, but Deputy Secretary of State John J. Sullivan will take over day-to-day duties. In the meantime, he will concentrate on the transition to Pompeo and is encouraging his policy planning team to remain at the department.

"I'll now return to private life, to a private citizen, proud American, proud of the opportunity I have had to serve my country," Tillerson said in his remarks, which did not mention Trump's name.

Tillerson touted progress made in regards to easing nuclear tensions with North Korea, as well as temporary ceasefires reached in the Syrian conflict. He also said, "Much work remains to respond to the troubling behavior and actions on the part of the Russian government. ... Continuing on their current trajectory is likely to lead to greater isolation on their part."

While rumors of Tillerson's removal have persisted for months, the move appears to have stunned the State Department. Steve Goldstein, the undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, was fired after making a statement saying, "(Tillerson) had every intention of staying because of the critical progress made in national security." Several other reports said Tillerson learned of the firing through a morning tweet by Trump.

"The secretary did not speak to the President and is unaware of the reason, but he is grateful for the opportunity to serve, and still believes strongly that public service is a noble calling," the statement said.

"We wish Secretary designate Pompeo well."

Just hours later, Goldstein released another statement, this time to CNN, describing his post-State Department plans on a day that roiled Washington.

"I wish everyone well and look forward to getting more rest and perhaps winning an indoor rowing competition," he said.

A White House official told The Associated Press Trump wanted to have a new team in place ahead of upcoming talks with North Korea and various trade talks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorized to speak publicly.

The move comes one day after Tillerson said the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal in Britain “clearly came from Russia," in a break with the White House. The White House said Monday the use of a highly lethal nerve agent “is an outrage” but was not ready to say Russia was responsible, though in Trump's Tuesday morning comments, he said it "sounds to me like it was Russia."

It wasn't the first time the former oil industry executive's message diverged from the administration, which previously drew heavy criticism from the president. As reports swirled that Tillerson called Trump a "moron" during a meeting over the summer, the president challenged him to a IQ test in a tweet that may have been in jest.

Tillerson, a former oil industry executive who came to the post as a political neophyte, had just returned from a shortened trip to Africa hours before Trump’s announcement.

There were reports in October that Tillerson had come close to resigning over the summer, but was urged to stay through the end of the year. This report came along with the news that Tillerson referred to Trump as a "moron" in July following a meeting with the president's national security team.

Pompeo, a West Point graduate and former congressman from Kansas, said his experience leading the CIA will help him in his new role. Senate Foreign Relations Comittee Chairman Bob Corker said the confirmation hearing will be in April.

Samuel Corum/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

CIA Director Mike Pompeo, nominated by President Trump to be secretary of state.

“I am deeply grateful to President Trump for permitting me to serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and for this opportunity to serve as Secretary of State,” Pompeo said in a statement. “His leadership has made America safer and I look forward to representing him and the American people to the rest of the world to further America’s prosperity. Serving alongside the great men and women of the CIA, the most dedicated and talented public servants I have encountered, has been one of the great honors of my life.”